L.O.L. Surprise! Makers Sue Over Knockoff Balls

The people who make the hottest toy of the season have one big surprise for a copycat company, a lawsuit for allegedly selling knockoff versions of their biggest moneymaker.

MGA Entertainment produces the infamous L.O.L. Surprise! products, which parents of children under the age of 6 have probably experienced. They filed a lawsuit, obtained by The Blast, on December 21 for trademark infringement and unfair competition.

The L.O.L. Surprise! line of products come in a toy container covered in colored shrink wrap, and revealing many other pre-packaged toys and tchotchkes that ultimately leave a mess of plastic wrap all over the floor. However, kids can’t get enough of them.

Credit

MGA says the product has “achieved great success” since first introduction in 2016, and one is of their “popular and most successful toys.” They also claim the toys are set apart by the “distinct packaging,” consisting of many layers of “colored shrink-wrap” with more individually wrapped toys inside.

MGA claims a company, named Moose Toys, began producing and marketing a toy called, Pikmi Pops Surprise!,” which includes a “separable toy container with two layers of shrink-wrap,” and other wrapped toys inside.

They claim the Pikmi Pops are designed as L.O.L. copycats, and look similar in shape, size and color schemes. MGA says Pikmi Pops has changed their look since L.O.L. became successful, and believe they are intentionally copying their design.

To make matters worse, both products are regularly put side-by-side in the store, and MGA claims the confusion has gone beyond the customers, and some store employees can’t even tell the products apart.

MGA is seeking an injunction to prevent Moose Toys from making and selling anymore Pikmi Pop Surprise! toys, as well as records from all the sales so they can determine an amount in damages.

However, neither party has offered any relief for the parents who shell out money on the toys only to spend hours picking up little pieces of shrink-wrap and stepping on tiny hairbrushes.